Smith: Hunter shaken, not deterred with Detroit

OAKLAND – The No. 48 jersey hung in his visiting clubhouse locker at O.co Coliseum. Four pairs of spikes, their heels stitched with his nickname, "T-NUTTS," were piled high beside bare feet.

His number and nickname — just like his hell-bent desire to slip a World Series ring on his finger — haven't changed in 17 seasons, even though his teams, colors and loyalties have.

The latest move still leaves Torii Hunter a bit sore. The 37-year-old veteran nursed a second cup of coffee before his game a week ago and remembered the last time he sat here, preparing to play the Oakland Athletics.

He was an Angel then. He used to button up a red and road gray jersey — not his new Detroit Tigers' navy, orange and gray one that he said still feels "weird" to wear.

After all, the popular four-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove center fielder had faithfully and proudly donned the halo for the past five seasons (2008-2012).

He used to believe he'd always be an Angel, win a World Series with the Angels, even retire as an Angel.

Tonight Hunter returns to Angel Stadium for the first time to face the team that let him go, that misses him, that's struggling without him and that probably wishes it had him now.

Hunter leads the American League with a .413 batting average, recording 10multi-hit games (in 13starts), six doubles and a 463-foot home run at the Coliseum on Saturday.

Coming back to Anaheim, Hunter has mixed feelings, but mostly regret that he never got a chance to say goodbye to the fans who loved him.

"I didn't think I was going to go anywhere. I thought we would work it out," said Hunter, who instead signed a two-year, $26 million, free-agent deal with the reigning AL champion Tigers.

"Going back, I don't know what to expect from the fans or the organization. I didn't leave Anaheim on a sour note. I'm proud of that. People know that I played hard, and I left it all on the field."

For that and for everything Hunter did for the Angels, we should give him a standing ovation.

'THAT'S BUSINESS'

The Tigers have embraced Hunter, who didn't have to work too hard to fit into a clubhouse that was already loose and loaded with veterans.

His bald head bowed, elbows on thighs and his mind sunken in thought, he sat quietly before a game, not needing to be the life of the party as he often had to be with the Angels.

His new teammates have had all spring to sample Hunter's magic personality, humor and upbeat spirit that have a way of making long, hot, tiring days fly by quickly.

He is still dropping punch lines, still pulling pranks and still — there it is when he spots a familiar face from his Angels past — smiling graciously and opening his generous heart.

"You came all the way up here to see me?" asked the surprised and humbled Hunter, his dimples deep and his chin showing with salt-and-pepper bristle. "That's awesome. Thanks!"

He's still charming and candid, saying he's also still a little hurt the Angels let him walk.

"Business," he said, diplomatically.

They turned loose a veteran who batted a career-best .313, made Spider-Man catches last season and has plenty more in the tank.

They let go of their clubhouse leader; the mentor to outfielders Peter Bourjos and 2012 AL Rookie of the Year Mike Trout; their most visible face in the community; and a fan favorite beloved enough to have his own municipality — "Toriitown" — backing him in right field at Angel Stadium.

The Angels lost their heart.

"One year. Five (million). Take it or leave it," Hunter said of the Angels' offer. "I was saying, 'Bobby Abreu got $8.5 million and he was 38. I'm 37. I'm a young 37 and I still played defense. His defense was gone.' They were like, 'Nope. It's all we have because of Vernon's (Wells) contract.'"

After briefly considering offers from the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers, Hunter signed with the Tigers, the team he felt would give him the best chance to win a World Series. He was stunned when the Angels in December signed five-time All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton, 31, to a five-year, $125 million deal.

What happened to all of the Angels' money being tied up in the $42 million owed to underperforming veteran outfielder Wells?

"I was like, 'OK, that was a lie,'" Hunter remembered thinking. "They didn't have any money for me. That's business. I get it."

Perhaps the Angels didn't know just how valuable Hunter was.

"He's one of those guys who'll pick you up when you're down, make you laugh, keep you going," said Trout, who still talks with Hunter about once a week. "The way he was in the clubhouse and the way he was on the field, you can't really replace Torii."

SETTING AN EXAMPLE

Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick has Hunter's old locker in the Angels clubhouse. Pitcher Tommy Hanson wears his old No. 48.

"Hamiltown" has taken the place of "Toriitown" in the right-field pavilion at Angel Stadium, though Hamilton has played only 14games, is batting only .200 and has committed two errors as a right fielder. And Trout is hitting out of the No. 2 hole where Hunter hit .343 in 85 games last season.

The Angels' loss has been the Tigers' gain "everywhere," said Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera, who hits in the No. 3 spot behind Hunter.

"We work everybody here pretty good, always joking (in the clubhouse) but also wanting to win on the field and play in the World Series," Cabrera said. "Torii is great on this team because his No. 1 goals are our goals."

As he did with the Angels, Hunter shares his insights about opposing pitchers with his teammates and talks to young outfielders about different park effects and batters' tendencies.

"There's a lot of information being shared in this clubhouse. Right there, he called on me," Hunter said after dashing over to watch video beside the cleanup hitter.

As he did with the Angels, Hunter still sets an example.

"In spring, I'd be tired in the mornings and I kept seeing him wide awake, alert, with energy, and I asked him, 'Who am I to be tired when you've played as long as you have?'" Fielder recalled.

"I met him was I was 12 in spring training. Now I'm 28 and he still looks the same and I'm the one looking and feeling old. He already helped me change my attitude about playing every day and for the long haul."

As he did with the Angels, Hunter still runs out of the dugout into right field to take his position each inning.

"It's not that easy to play (until you're 37) and see that he still has that bounce in that step," said Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson, 26, who watched Hunter growing up. "He doesn't act like he's wearing down."

As he did with the Angels, Hunter still wants that World Series ring.

"All I care about is winning a championship, but to go back to L.A. and play against the Angels, it will be different," Hunter said. "When I was there, I left my heart there."